I'm stoked to be going to the Gunks this weekend!! I plan to torture myself by leading all the easy climbs I can get on. I need to get a lot of mileage on the sharp end so I can stop being a pansy and start upping the ante!! :)

How did your weekend go? Sorry I wasn't able to be more definite about partnering. Things are hectic lately.

Oh yeah, by the way, did anyone else hear that loud-ass crash of thunder just before 3PM on Sunday? Anyway else think it was the rock? I swear i heard that and it did not sound like thunder! I thought the whole damn cliff was coming down on my head! I tried to take off running, but given I was wearing flip-flops I only succeeded in falling down the hill and getting a nasty, stingy case of rock rash on my calf and thigh.

Rolled into Camp Slime late Thursday night, to find it completely empty. Excellent. Grabbed the best spots, woke up to find a few more folks had arrived overnight. Spent Friday belaying my partner, who's slowly getting his lead head back, on Horseman and Maria (gawd, I love that third pitch). Saturday, we headed over to Drunkard's Delight. I started up, and nearly greased off the opening crux. That was kinda scary. Set up a belay under the roof and, as my partner was climbing up, witnessed a woman take a tumble off Bloody Mary. Seems she was trying to downclimb after finding the route too difficult, but hadn't properly tied her knot, so when she weighted it it came undone. Folks were pretty good in coming to her aid. I then started up the second pitch, pulling the roof, and was getting absolutely no slack from my partner, or so it seemed. What happened, unfortunately, was that one of my double ropes got stuck on the gear on my harness, so it just wasn't feeding. Pulled the roof, got a good stance, unwrapped the rope and finished the climb. Lost a couple of quarts of sweat during the climb, it was so hot. My partner led Frog's Head after that, but it was so bloody hot out that we called it a day after that. Woke up Sunday to major dehydration cramps, so we decided to head back home. Man, I can so not deal with heat.

Rolled into Camp Slime late Thursday night, to find it completely empty. Excellent. Grabbed the best spots, woke up to find a few more folks had arrived overnight. Spent Friday belaying my partner, who's slowly getting his lead head back, on Horseman and Maria (gawd, I love that third pitch). Saturday, we headed over to Drunkard's Delight. I started up, and nearly greased off the opening crux. That was kinda scary. Set up a belay under the roof and, as my partner was climbing up, witnessed a woman take a tumble off Bloody Mary. Seems she was trying to downclimb after finding the route too difficult, but hadn't properly tied her knot, so when she weighted it it came undone. Folks were pretty good in coming to her aid. I then started up the second pitch, pulling the roof, and was getting absolutely no slack from my partner, or so it seemed. What happened, unfortunately, was that one of my double ropes got stuck on the gear on my harness, so it just wasn't feeding. Pulled the roof, got a good stance, unwrapped the rope and finished the climb. Lost a couple of quarts of sweat during the climb, it was so hot. My partner led Frog's Head after that, but it was so bloody hot out that we called it a day after that. Woke up Sunday to major dehydration cramps, so we decided to head back home. Man, I can so not deal with heat.

Yeah, it was definitely some hot on Saturday. I did two routes and then was pretty much done for.

Oh, hmm...feedmerocks, did you by any chance lose a piece of gear under Strictley? I found one and I think you and Ryan were the last ones on the route. If you let me know what it is I'll return it to you next time I'm up there.

But I'm so much better at lurking.... it suits my engineerish lack of social skills so well :D

Yeah, I'm hoping my boss didn't walk by me today, because I spent at least 4 hours staring blankly into space. At least I was able to keep myself awake during a meeting this morning by reliving some of the moves on Birdland and Mother's Day Party in my head.

Oh yeah, by the way, did anyone else hear that loud-ass crash of thunder just before 3PM on Sunday? Anyway else think it was the rock? I swear i heard that and it did not sound like thunder! I thought the whole damn cliff was coming down on my head! I tried to take off running, but given I was wearing flip-flops I only succeeded in falling down the hill and getting a nasty, stingy case of rock rash on my calf and thigh.

Oh that is precious! After doing some trail work with the legends crew I headed down to the deli to rehydrate. The thunder crash caught me off guard and I almost poured my beer down my shirt (almost, I simply refuse to abuse alcohol :) )

After the beer I headed down to split rock for the first time; what a blast. There were a ton of people there but it was a festive atmosphere and it was a great way to cool down.

YoCo- I thought you already had a set of nuts? If you're going to pull the Sally Sruthers routine, at least ask for some cams!!!

Dirt Dangler-the ultimate dirty tradster, replete with the drinking problem. :wink: I now know that 3 measely bottles of Guinness is more of an insult then a contribution to the "Get Charlie drunk fund." (Granted, I did contribute to other funds like the "Feed Carlie Fund" and the "Take Charlie swimming so he can shower/do laundry fund" and I think there may have been one or two more I contributed to as well....:wink:). Next time I want to climb with you, I know to bring whiskey. Can you handle a little Maker's Mark or are you partial to the Knob?

And wormly- thank God you didn't spill that beer! You would have had to go to the klink for alcohol abuse for sure!

We were at the lake when it was storming and thought that the thunder sounded like something other than what it was too. People were staring when Chris, Giz, and I started running from the "incoming fire".

Dirt and Betty, thanks for the great company and for helping us finish the cooler every night. Hope we weren't too much for you guys, and we all hope to see you next time. We are going to be back down there the weekend of the 8th. Maybe we can do HE friday night the right way!!!! You guys all know where to find us. And if you dont just listen for the very loud arguments at 2 am, thats us.

Yeah, it was definitely some hot on Saturday. I did two routes and then was pretty much done for.

Oh, hmm...feedmerocks, did you by any chance lose a piece of gear under Strictley? I found one and I think you and Ryan were the last ones on the route. If you let me know what it is I'll return it to you next time I'm up there.

K.

After Strictly we couldn't take the heat anymore either. We went to split rock and went swimming then headed back to the Nears for a route around 4:30-5:00. It was an effective plan for dealing with the heat and i would recommend it for all the future hot days coming up.

On another note, I am looking for a partner for this sat. July 2. Any takers?

We were at the lake when it was storming and thought that the thunder sounded like something other than what it was too. People were staring when Chris, Giz, and I started running from the "incoming fire".

Dirt and Betty, thanks for the great company and for helping us finish the cooler every night. Hope we weren't too much for you guys, and we all hope to see you next time. We are going to be back down there the weekend of the 8th. Maybe we can do HE friday night the right way!!!! You guys all know where to find us. And if you dont just listen for the very loud arguments at 2 am, thats us.

Peace, Rev. Doobs

Doobs, I was so already planning on being there that weekend!!! I'll definitely have to come over and hang with you guys. Had a blast. Too much for me? Hell no, I hope I wasn't too much for you!!! ;-)

We were at the lake when it was storming and thought that the thunder sounded like something other than what it was too. People were staring when Chris, Giz, and I started running from the "incoming fire".

Dirt and Betty, thanks for the great company and for helping us finish the cooler every night. Hope we weren't too much for you guys, and we all hope to see you next time. We are going to be back down there the weekend of the 8th. Maybe we can do HE friday night the right way!!!! You guys all know where to find us. And if you dont just listen for the very loud arguments at 2 am, thats us.

Peace, Rev. Doobs

Doobs, I was so already planning on being there that weekend!!! I'll definitely have to come over and hang with you guys. Had a blast. Too much for me? Hell no, I hope I wasn't too much for you!!! ;-)

You definitly were not too much for us, I just hope that you werent too much for Dirt :wink:

We will definitly be down there the evening of the 8th so stop by if you are in town already. The whole crew will be down there that weekend along with the Gizmo and I's "crag dates". We will see you there. And yes Charlie, we will have beer and maybe a bottle for you again. See everyone next weekend.

Doob- You and Giz are bringing the crag dates? Hope that doesn't interfere with your climbing. At least you won't have to be on your damn cell phones with them ALL THE TIME! Unfortunately, I don't think the illsutratious Dirt Dangler will be in attendance that weekend.....

Speaking of whom-- Dirt before you start telling Doob to take some notes...you should take some of your own! Then you should fill Chris in because I think he needs the help too! hehehe :P